Press control mechanism



April 2, '1935.- .1. P. DALY PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 15, 1933 INVENTOR L/OSEPH P 4: y

ORNEYS Patented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PAT ENT} OFFICE.

- PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Joseph P. Daly, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company,- Cincmnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 7 .Application May 13, 1933, Serial No. 670,957

10 Claims.

from each other for both the closing and final pressure operations are controlled in a simple manner and with due regard for safety of the operator and safeguarding of thepress mecha- A' further object of the invention is to provide control mechanism of this kind in which the press is operated by a fluid pressure motor of servomotor type controlled by a primary valve or valve mechanism which in turn is'actuated or controlled by a. relay device under the direct control of the operator, preferably by two-hand control mechanism, the press also including interlocking or interrelated parts actuated or controlled by the servo-motor and by the relay device, for the purpose of preventing the actuation of the servo-motor under full power pressure unless the press has been first fully closed to a safe positionand in a manner to. prevent any possibility of the operator's hands being between the pressing members or in a dangerous position.

I A further object of the invention is to provide press control mechanism of this kind including primary valve. mechanism actuated by a relay device subject to the operation of secondary valves or valvemechanism, which, in turn, control the flow of pressure to the relay device from a reservoir or container-of limited capacity suflicient for only a single operation of the relay device, thereby preventing false or faulty manipulation such'as might endanger the operator.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail here- In the drawing, which represents one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, partly diagrammatic, showing the servo-motor and its control devices, with the parts in release or press-open position; Figs.'2

and 3 are detail sectionalviews on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1, and showing the valve ports and passages; Fig. 4 is a. view corresponding to Fig. 1 and showing the parts in full pressure position; Figs. 5 and 6 are views corresponding to Figs. 2 and 3 respectively, and illustrating the positions of the valves corresponding to Fig. 4; Fig. '7 is a detail rear elevation showing the primary valve mechanism: Fig. 8 is a. side elevation from the right in Fig. 7; and Figs. 9 and 10 are cross sectional views on the, lines 99,

respectively, of Fig. 8, and showing the valve ports and passages in positions corresponding to Fig. 1; and Figs. 11'and 12 are similar views, showing the ports and passages in the positionsa corresponding to Fig. 4.

While the control mechanism described may be employed for operating any kind of device actuated by a fluid pressure motor of servo type, the drawing shows the invention applied to a garment press illustrated more or less conven- 1 0 tionally and including a frame I carrying a-stationary lower pressing member or bed 2 cooperating with an. upper pressing member or head 3 carried by one arm 4- of .a lever pivoted on the frame at 5, the rear arm of said lever being actu- 15 ated by upper-and lower toggles 6,1, to one of which, such as to the lower toggle member, is pivotally connected the rod 8 of a piston '9 working in the chamber In of a fluid pressure cylinder ll, saidchamber communicating with a conduit 12 by which pressure fluid is introduced into and exhausted from the pressure end of the chamber.

The flow of pressure fluid to and from said. chamber is'controlled by primary valve mechanism or devices marked generally l3 in-Figs. 1

and 4 and illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive. This valve mechanism, generally speaking, is of gas cook type including a rotat able and usually tapered plug turning in a casingand having ports controlling two separate passages through the plug and casing, one of said passages being for the supply and the other for'exhaust. The primary valve-is actuated or controlled by a relay device, marked generally H in Figs, 1 and 4 and which, in the form shown, is a fluid pressure piston and cylinder device to which pressure fluid is supplied from a reservoir l5, having capacity for storing sufllcient fluid, at supply pressure,for one operation only-of said relay device, the pressure supply to which 40 comes from a pipe l6 communicating witha suitable source of fluid under pressure, such as a pump, a large tank or supply reservoir or the like, not shown; The flow of pressure fluid from the source to the reservoir and from the reservoir to the relay device is controlled by secondary valve devices, two of which are shown, marked ll, I8 and each of which, generally speaking, is of the same form and arrangement as the valve I3 shown in Figs. 7, 8, etc.

Referring first to the secondary control valves, each includes a casing [9 in which rotates a plug 20, preferably tapered and held to its seat by a compression spring 2 I. At the opposite end oi the plug its stem is provided with an operat- 5 ing handle 22 and the plug is subject to the torque of a spring 23, which normally holds it in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each plug simultaneously controls the flow of pressure fluid through two conduits, to-wit, the conduit l6 connecting the reservoir I! to the supply source, and the ports and passages for which are shown in Fig. 2, and the conduit 16a connecting the reservoir IS with the chamber of the relay cylinder Figs. 1 to 3, if the operator applies his two hands to the levers of the two valves I 1, l8 and moves them both outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4, the left hand valve-plug being turned clockwise and the right hand plug counterclockwise, the valve plugs move to the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6, thereby cutting ofi communi cation of the reservoir I 5 with the source of fluid V supply and opening up communication from said reservoir to the cylinder i4. Thereup'on the piston Na in said cylinder moves over to the position shown in Fig. 4, the cylinder itself being pivoted at 14b to a bracket carried by cylinder II. The rod 14a of said piston is pivotally connected at to the outer end of an arm 28 attached to the stem of the plug of the valve 13. As a consequence said valve is moved from the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10 to the po-' sition shown in Figs. Hand 12, with an effect now to be described. I

Conduit l2, communicating with the servomotor cylinder chamber [0, has two branches both controlled by the valve 13. One branch |2a communicates with a suitable source of pressure fluid supply which may be the same or a different source from that with which the pipe l5 communicates. The other branch i2b communicates with exhaust, such as through the mui'fler 21.

In the. normal or "press-open position, shown 'in Figs. 1, 11 and 12, the cylinder chamber l0 communicates with exhaust by way of the conduit I2b, which is open through the primary valve I 3. The fluid supply to the chamber I ll through conduit l2a is, however, closed at the valve I3. When the relay device moves the valve I 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 its ports and thereby moving the head toward the passages assume the positions shown in Figs. 9 and 10, with the pressure fluid supply pipe 12a now open to the pipe l2 and the exhaust through pipe |2b being cut off. Pressure fluid now flows from the source into the'chamber l0 and the piston 3 promptly moves over to the right in Fig. 1 bed or, in

other words, closing the press.

To secure such action it is necessary to actuate both of the valve handles 22, thereby compelling the operator to use both hands anipreventing him from putting one hand between the pressing members. I Moreover, the capacity of the reservoir I5 is limited to an amount suiiicient, at supply pressure, for one actuation only of the piston of the relay device I4. Therefore,

if the operator takes one hand ofi from one of the "valves 11, I8 before the closing operation is completed, the relay cylinder 14 is evacuated and a second operation of the handle of the valve which was released will not produce a second complete operation of the relay device, but it is necessary to permit both valve handles to recede to thenormal positions for a full recharge of the reservoir l5 before the press can again be operated.

One of the parts of the mechanism actuated by the servo-motor piston 9 is utilized to actuate a part'controlled by the relay device H, to produce interaction or interrelation between the two operations. Specifically, a part oi the piston rod 8, such as the swivel or head 28 thereof, has pivoted thereto at 29 an arm 30 capable of adjustment by the set screws 3|, 32. The upper.end of said arm has a perforated ear 33 through which slides a rod 34 which in turn is slidable through a block 35 slidable in guideways in a support 36 carried by any suitable part, such as by the wall of cylinder II. The block 35 at one end is provided with a shoulder 31 and its upper face is provided with a concave recess or seat 38 to receive a segment 39 attached to the end of the plug of the valve l3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The plug of this valve also carries a pin 40, the opposite ends of which engage shoulders at the sides of a lug 4| of the casing, which shoulders serve as stop abutments to limit valve rotating motion.

As shown in Fig. 1 that end of cylinder I4 through which the rod l4c slides, may consist of a thimble-like cap 14d adjustably threaded upon the cylinder body and held in adjusted position by a set screw l4e.. This cap may be ad- Justed to any position where it will serve to limit piston motion to the right amount to properly operate valve I 3, as will be readily understood.

Rod 34 may have limited lost sliding motion through the slide or block 35, for which purpose it is provided with two sets of lock nuts 42, 43

located at opposite ends of said block. Also, perforated ear 33 has lost sliding motion with reference to the rod 34, such motion being limited by a set of lock nuts 44 adjustably secured near the outer end of the rod and a compression spring 45 adjacent another pair of adjustable lock nu s When the press is closed by actuation of primary valve II by the relay device I 4, as before described, the arm 30 moves with the piston rod 8 and slides along the rod 34 until it engages the lock nuts 44. Thereupon additional motion of the piston-moves the rod 34 until the lost motion between lock nuts 42 and block 35 is taken up, whereupon the block 35 moves to the right or to the position shown in Fig. 4. In said position a blank or flat face 41 of the slide lies opposite to or beneath the position formerly occupied by the segment 39 and therefore forms.

an abutment or obstacle which prevents the segment 39 from returning to its former position and thereby. locks the primary valve l3 in its pressure-on position. Locking of the valve I 3 in pressure-0n position of course actually occurs before the block 35 reaches its extreme right-hand position, shown in Fig. 4. It actually occurs just as soon as the first increment of the flat face 41 of the slide moves into the path of return movement of the segment 39, as will be readily understood.

The parts areso adjusted, by adjustment of the lock nuts described, that'the block 35 does not assume its position locking valve 13 until the press has been fully closed to a safe position in which itis impossible for the operator to get 1,996,281 his hands, arms or any part of his person between the pressing members. If the operator takes his hands'ofi from one or both of the secondary valve levers 22 at any time before the block 35 reaches its locking position, valve I3 is returned by the tension spring 48 toits normal or press-open position, opening chamber Hi to ex- .haust through the pipe Ho, and the pressing members are thereupon opened immediately by the counter-balancing springs 49 or counterweight, not shown, or both.

Assuming, however, that the hands are held.

on the control levers 22 until the block 35 reaches its locking position, in which the pressing membars are safely closed, the operator can now take his hands oil from the valve levers 22 and pressure fluid will continue to flow into the chamber i0, building the pressure therein up to the value of the main supply pressure fluid or of any pressure reducing or controlling valve which may be employed. 'Usuallythe rate of flow of pressure to the chambers of each of the cylinders H and I4 is controlled by adjustable needle or other throttle valves illustrated conventionally at 59, although this is not essential.

Of course, it will be understood that in the initial set-up the press controlled parts are adjusted, by adjustment of the position of the lock nuts 44, 42, so that locking position of the block 35 is reached only when the pressing members are in safe closing position, as described.

With the press parts closed in full pressure position, as described, the press remains closed for as long a period as the operator may desire and the operator is free to step away and operate or control another press or do other work, as may be desirable. When it is desired toopen the press the operator actuates a suitable releasing device, such as the handle of a simple valve 5la in a conduit 52 communicating with the chamber III such as by connection-to the pipe l2 at the point 53. The valve handle 5| may be connected to a foot treadle or may be located in any suitable position convenient for operation by the knee or by the hands of theoperator, as may be preferable. When it is actuated it provides free flow to exhaust from the chamber 10, and such exhaust evacuates said chamber and permits the pressing members to open and return to the position shown in Fig. 1. In so doing metoggle members 9, I also return to initial position and,

the piston 9 moves over to the left, thereby caus ing the perforated ear '33 to travel along rod 34 until it engages the spring 45, whereupon the rod 34 is moved to the left and as soonas the lock nuts 43 engage the block 35 said block also moves to the left until its shoulder 31' engagesthe guide 35, in the position shown' in Fig. 1., As'soon as blank portion 41 of the block 35 passes wholly beyond the zone of movement of the segment 39, the spring 48 returns lever l3 to its initial position, which opens a'permanent exhaust from the chamber I9 by way of the pipe [2b, and the operator can release the temporary exhaust lever 5|, which returns to its initial position under the 'shown in the-position, Fig. 1, if the operator applies his hand to the head or head lever and manually closes the pressing members, the piston 9 will move to the right or to approximately the -position shown in Fig. 4. However, valve l3 has not been moved because the release cylinder l4 is open to exhaust. As a result, the partsof valve l3 and of block 35 arein the position shown in 'Fig. 7 and the segment 39 therefore serves as an obstacle to prevent complete movement of block 35 to the right and it is therefore also impossible to movethe piston 9 completely to the right. In other words, if the operator closes the press manually, it is impossible to apply full power pressure to the pressing parts unless the same cycle of control operations is followed, by applying both hands to the lever 22 and actuating the relay device l4 which in turn moves the primary valve l3 to pressure-on" position, with results as before.

The limited lost motion of rod 34 in block 35 is not essential, but may be resorted to as an expedient to prevent mechanical interference between the right hand end of rod.34, as shown in the drawing, and the toggle mechanism 5, I or other moving parts of the press, which, of course, are shown conventionally in the drawing and not necessarily in their true relation to the rod 34.

The control mechanism described is simple in operation and provides fully protected two-hand control mechanism by which the press may be controlled and actuated in the desirable way but nevertheless with full safety for the operator and safeguarding of the press against faulty operation or injury to its parts.

WhatIclaim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a device to be'operated. an operating fluid pressure servo-motor therefor, and controlling means for said motor, comprising a. source of pressure fluid supply, primary inlet and exhaust valve means controlling the connection of said motor either to said source or to exhaust, a fluid pressure relay motor connected to operate said valve means, a reservoir having capacity for stor ing suflicient fluid, at supply pressure, for one operation only of said relay motor, and two hand control means controlling the connection of said reservoir to a source of pressure fluid or to said relay motor and of said relay motor to exhaust. 2. Apparatus 'of the character described, comprising a deviceto be operated, an operating fluid pressure servo-motor therefor,"and controlling means for said motor, comprising a source of pres sure .fluidsupply, primary inlet and exhaust valve means controlling the connection of said motor either to said source or to exhaust, a fluid pressure relay motor connected to operate said valve means, a reservoir having capacity for storing.

sufllcient fluid, at supply pressure, for one operation-only of said relay'motonand secondary valve means normally establishing connection of said reservoirto a source of pressure fluid and of said relay motor to exhaust, said secondary valve means being operable to close the connection of said reservoir to thesource and of said relay motor to exhaust and to open communication be tween said reservoir and relay motor.

3. Apparatus ot the characterdescrlbem-com prisinga device to be operated, on operating fluid pressure. servo-motor therefor, and controlling means for said motor, comprising 'a source of pressure fluid supply, primary inlet andexhaust valve'means controllingthe connection of said reservoir to a source of pressure fluid or to said relay motor and 0! said relay motor to exhaust,

and means independent of said primary exhaust valve for evacuating the pressure fluid in said servo-motor.

4. Apparatus oi the character described, comprising a device to be operated, an operating fluid pressure relay motor connected to operate said valve means, a reservoir having capacity for storing sufllcient fluid, at supply pressure, for one operation only of said relay motor, secondary valve means normally establishing connection of said reservoir to a source of pressure fluid and of said relay motor to exhaust, said secondary valve means being operable to close the connection of said reservoir to the source and of said relay motor to exhaust and to open communication between said reservoir and relay motor, and means independent of said primary exhaust valve for evacuating the pressure fluid in said servomotor.

5. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1, in which said primary valve means is provided with yielding means for normally maintaining it in servo-motor exhaust position.

6. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1, in which said primary valve meansis provided with yielding means for normally main-- taining it in servo-motorexhaust position, and cooperating means actuated respectively by said servo-motor and relay motor for locking said primary valve means in servo-motor supply position when the device to be operated reaches safe position.

7. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a device to be operated, an operating servo-motor therefor, and controlling means therefor, comprising a source of pressure fluid supply, valve means controlling the connection of said motor either to said source or to exhaust, a fluid pressure actuated relay motor for operating said valve means, a reservoir having capacity for storing suflicient fluid, at supply pressure, for one operation only of'said relay motor, two conduits, one for supplying pressure fluid from said source to said reservoir and the other for supplying pressure fluid from the reservoir to the relay motor to control the servo-motor operation, and two valve members for operation re-.

spect ively by the two hands of the operator, each of said valve members controlling the flow through both of said conduits.

8. Apparatus of the character described in claim '7, including exhaust means independent of said relay motor for evacuating the pressure of said servo-motor.

9. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a cylinder and piston motor, and controlling means theretor including a sourceoi' pressure fluid supply, a reservoir having capacity for storing sufiicient fluid at supply pressure for one 2 operation only or said motor, a conduit communicating between said source and said reservoir, a second conduit communicating between said reservoir and said motor, and two valve members spaced apart for operation respectively by the two hands of an operator, each of said valve members controlling the flow through both or said conduits.

10. Apparatus as described in claim 9, in which the valve members in the second conduit have flow and exhaust ports communicating with theconduit leading to said motor, and the said valve members are biased in cylinder-exhausting position.

JOSEPH P. DALY. 

